Flash light



" Sept. 9,1930. 'G. 1. JOHNSON 1,775,166

' FLASH LIGHT}. l

Fil ed Jan. 23, 1928 Fatented Sept. 9 193T) a r w TES GUSTAI I. JOHNSON, OF MAIL-DEN, MASSACHUSETTS FLASH LIGHT The present invention relates in general to improvements in the art of producing artificial light, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of magneto actuated electric flash lights wherein the electric current generating mechanism is manipulable by hand and the use of batteries is thereby dispensed with.

An object of the invention is to pnovide an improved electric flash light of the magneto actuated type, which is extremely simple and compact in construction, and which is conveniently manipulableto produce a relatively uniform and bright light. Another object of the invention is to provide improvements in magneto structures especially adapted for installation within a flash light handle, andmechanism for conveniently manipulating and for eflecting desired adjustment of the elements of such structures. A'further object of the invention is to provide an improved flash lighthandle for magneto actuated devices of this kind, wherein the handle is readily removable to permit inspection of the magneto and of other mechanism disposed within the handle, and wherein the housing handle presents a perfect grip as well as an extremely pleasing appearance. Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanically actuated electric flash light all elements of which may be manufactured at minimum cost with the aid of punches and dies, and which may be quickly assembled and dismantled with ordinary tools. These andother object's ofthe invention and advantages gained with the present improve ment, will be apparent from the following description. t A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention and of the mode of manufacturing, assembling and" manipulating devices constructed in accordance therewith,'may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1- is a v longitudinal section through parts of the handle, frame and other elements of an improved magneto actuated flash light. Fig.2 is a part sectional side view of the improved magneto actuated flash light with flash light showingthe handle casing assembled.

Fig. 5 is a full side view of one ofthe frame sections showing cross-sections through the pins and shafts associated therewith.

Fig. 6 is a full side view of the other frame section showing cross-sections through the pins and shafts associated therewith.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the one way automatic motion'transmitting clutch associated with the armature shaft.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the one way automatic motion transmitting clutch.

The magneto actuated manually operable flash light specifically illustrated in the draw- 7 ing comprises 1n general an adjustable reflector portion 2 of ordinary construction having a lens and a light bulb 3 associated therewith; a frame consisting. of detachably interconnected sideplates 11, 12 secured to a front supporting bracket 23 rigidly attached to the reflector portion 2; a magneto mounted between the side plates 11, 1.2 of the frame 1 remote from the reflector 2 manually manipulable actuating mechanism associated with the frame between the magneto and the reflector portion 2 and a sectional casing 4 providing a complete enclosure for the frame and the magneto, as well as the gearing of the actuating mechanism.

The front supporting bracket 23 of the frame is preferably formed of sheet metal, and may be rigidly attached to the shell of the reflector portion in any suitable manner.

The bracket 23 is provided with a pair of integral rearwardly projecting ears 24: to which the side plates 11, 12 are detachably secured by means of screws 40. The side plates 11, 12 which extend longitudinally away from the bracket 23, are likewise preferably '35 ing thecore 7. Each of the cores 6, 7 presents tionsi1 and a wire windmg formed of sheet metal, being shaped as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The side plate 11 is merely a flat punching having no lateral projections net 5 is composed of a sulficient numberof laminations or plates to produce the desired fly-wheel efi'ect necessary toinsure uniform rotation 'thereof,thes'e plates being stamped from sheet metal and rigidly attached to a supporting shaft which is mounted in bear- 'mgs in: the side frames 11, 12. The poles of Y the rotary magnet. 5 may be separated by the rotor radial gaps formed as shown, an has maximum diameter permissible within the casing at.v The rear section of the fixed armature is located at'the extreme rear end of the handle and comprises a laminated.

metal core 6 secured to the side framell ,by means of retaining bolts 31 cooperating with elongatedopenings 32 in the laminaorcoil 8 embracing t e core 6. Thefront section of thefixed armature is located between the magnet 5 and the reflector portion 2 and comprises a lami nated core 7 secured to the side frame 11 by meansof retaining bolts 42 likewise cooperating'with elongated openings in the lamina- 4o v ings 32 provided inthe core laminations.

tions, and a wire winding or coil 9 embraca pair of pole pieces'to the revolving pole faces of the magnet 5, through adjustablev air" gaps the width of which may be varied as desired by virtue of-the elongated open- The armature coils 8, 9 are interconnectedby means of a conductor 36, and the front coil 9 is connected to the lamp bulb '3 by means of a connection, 34. "The rear coil 8 is further grounded on the frame plate 11 by means of a connection 38, and suitable insulation is. rovided wherever necessary or desirable.

- he manually manipulableactuatin mech-, anism comprises a'rearwardlg exten 'ng oscillatory. operating lever 13 'sposed outside of the casin '4, and strain of gearing connecting the ever- 13-with the rotary magnet 55.. The lever. 13whichmay be pressed from sheet metal or otherwise. constructed, is

. formed integral with a toothed segment 16.

The segment 16 is pivotally supported upon a pivot pin 14-associated with theside frames 11, 12,"and-is -provided with an integral lat- 'eral projection'25which is engagea le with .the stop lug of the side frame 12 as shown in Fig. 3, in order to limit the outward movementof the lever 13.1 Acoil spring 15. which embraces the pivot. in 14, has one end connected to the side p ate 11 and has i oppo ed armature sesite end disposed to press against the segment 16 and adapted to constantly urge the segment 16 and hence the lever 13, outwardly with respect to the casing 4. Theteeth of the segment 16 coact with a pinion 17 which is rigidly attached to a gear 18, the combined gear and pinion being rotatably supported upon a pivot 39 secured to the side plate 12. 3

The gear 18 meshes with'another pinion 19 loosely mounted upon the magnet shaft 10, and having the pawl actuating plate 27 of a clutch 20 secured thereto. The one-way clutch 20 shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8,

to the plate 26, in a clockwise direction as viewedinFig. 7, the pawl 29-is placed into positive engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 30 and thereby positively transmits rotarymotion to the shaft-10, whereas during reversal of the motion, the pawl 29 is swung outwardly thereby disengaging the ratchet wheel 30 and permitting continued unrestrained movement of the rotary magnet 5 in the same direction as when driving force is being applied. I I a The side frames 11, 12 beside providing supports for the magneto and the gearing, are detachably connected and definitely spaced apart by means of pins 41, 21. The pin 41 is located at the forward portion of the frame and theclamping nuts associated therewith are disposed entirely within the casing 4. p The pin 21 is located at the extreme 7 rear end of the frame and has ends which penetrate thesections of the casing 4. The

of the magnet 5, and are shaped to present a perfect grip tothe hand of an operator. The forward .portions of the casing sections are formed tosnugly coact with a rearwardly extending flange" 33 of the reflector portion I bled position.

Durin normal operation of the improved and a single set of clamping nuts 22, co-- actin with the rotrudin ends-of the in 21 g P a, P serve .to clam the casin sections in' assem- P I g Y flash 'lig t, the parts having-been properly assembled as shown, the operator-holdsthe' handle casing 4 in the, palm of. his hand and oscillates his fingers to successively a ply inward pressure'to the levler' 13 in re atlvely rapid succession. the; lever 13 is moved inwardly toward the handle, the segment 16 carried thereby imparts rotary motion to the pinion l7 and gear 18 from whence Y the rotary motion is imparted to the pinion l9 and the clutch 20 causing the clutch to positively rotate the magnet 5 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. The revolving magnet 5 cooperates with the fixed armature in a well known manner to generate electric current which acts through the connections 34, 36, 38 and the metal frame to light the lamp bulb 3. When the inward pressure upon the lever ii?) is released, the coil spring 15 immediately becomes effective to move the segment 16 and the lever 13 outwardly, this motion continuing if unrestrained, until the projection 25 on the segment 16 engages the stop 35 on the frame 12. During this outward movement of the lever 13, the direction of rotation of the gearing is reversed, but the direction of rotation of the magnet 5 is not affected. Upon reversal of the loose pinion 19, the pawl 29 is immediately withdrawn from the ratchet30 thereby permitting the magnet 5 to continue in its rotation by virtue of the inertia. As soon as the lever 13 has reached its extreme outermost position, it should again be brought inwardly against the handle by the operator, thereby again applying positive rotation to the permanent magnet 5. In this manner, the magnet 5 may be readily rotated at relatively uniform speed thereby generating relatively constant electric current and maintaining a relatively uniform and brightlig'ht.

By locating the armature poles 6, 7 and coils 8, 9 on opposite sides" of the magnet 5 along the longitudinal axis of the handle,

the magnet 5 may be made of desirably large diameter without undue enlargement of the confining handle. As the magneto parts are all supported by the side plate 11 only of the frame, these parts are retained in assembled position even when the casing 4 and the side plate 12 have been removed. The gaps between the magnet 5 and the adjacent pole faces may be readily varied to produce operation of the magneto at maximum efficiency,

by virtue of the slotted openings 32 and the clamping bolts 31, 42 associated therewith,

and rapid access to the interior of the handle may be effected by merely releasing one of the clamping nuts 22 and by subsequent removal of one or both of the sections of the casing 4. The casing 4t normally completely encloses the frame, the magneto and the ac tuating gearing and presents. an extremely neat appearance with only the rear clamping nuts 22 visible. A majority of the elements of the structure may be formed of sheet metal with the aid of punches and dies, thereby reducing the cost of construction'to a minimum; The entire structure may be readily assembled or dismantledwith the aidof ordinary tools, and the relative simplicity of tails of construction and to the precise mode of operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a flash light, a lamp support having a flange, a frame associated with said support, a magneto carried by said frame, a casing comprising sections interlocking at one end with said flange,'means for operating said magneto from the exterior of said casing, and a single clamping member for rigidly uniting the sections of said casing at the opposite end thereof.

2. In a flash light, a lamp support having a rearwardly projecting annular flange, a lamp associated with one side of said support, means associated with the other side of said support for lighting said lamp, and a longitudinally divided sectional casing providing a handle and an enclosure for said lighting means, the front portions of the easing sections interlocking with said flan e and the rear portions thereof being unite by a single connectin bolt.

3. In a flash light, a lamp support, a lamp associated with the front of said support, a pair of laterally spaced side plates detachably associated with the rear of said support, a magneto carried by and between said plates, a sectional casing enclosing said plates, and a single member for simultaneously uniting the sections of said casing and maintaining said plates in spaced relation.

. 4. In a flash light, a lamp support, a lamp associated with the front of said support, a

pair of laterally spaced side frames secured.

port, and a sectional casing coacting with said support and enclosing said frames and said magneto, the sections of said casing coacting-along a plane passing longitudinally through said space and providing a handle disposed coaxial with said lamp, and. said lever being movable laterally of the handle axls.

- 5. In a flash light, a lamp support, a frame associated with said support, a magneto carried by said frame, a casing comprising sections interlocking at one end with said support, means for operating said magneto from the exterior of said casing, and a single clamping member for rigidly uniting the sectipns of said casing at the opposite end there- 0 i I 20 frames secured to said support, amagneto I associated with said support means asso- .ciated with said su port for lighting said 6. In a flash light, a lamp support, a lamp lamp, anda longitu inally divided sectional casing'providing a haiidle and an enclosure.

7 v p for said lighting means, the front portions .ofthe casing sections interlocking with said support and the rear portions thereof being united by a single connecting member.

7. In a flashlight, a. lamp support, a lamp.

I carried by said support a} pair ofelate'rally spaced plates formmg a rame secured to said support, a magnetodisposed between said plates, a sectional casing enclosing said plates and said magneto, and a single member unit- 7 mg the sections of said casing, said memberv I coactm with said frame to maintain the plates t ereof in proper spaced relation.

'8. In a flash light, a lamp su port, a lamp carried by said support, a pair 0 spaced side "mounted at, the .rear of the space between inventor is said frames, mechanismv for actuating said magneto located 1nsaid space between said support and said magneto,.and a sectional casing enclosing said frames and said magneto, the opposite ends of said casing being detachably securedv to said support and "to said frames respectively.

In testimon whereof,

a xed hereto.

GUSTAF I. JOHNSON.

he signature of the 

